Gas range construction



June 1939! A. sTocKs RoM ET AL 2,161,537 I I GAs RANGE CONSTRUCTION I Filed Aug. 4, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet l June 1939- A; sT ocKsTRoM ET AL 2,161,537

GAS RANGE CONSTRUCT I ON Filed Aug. 4, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 6, 1939- r A. STOCKSTROM .ET AL GAS RANGE CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 4, 19:56

4 Sheets-Sheet 3 5:: wm m June 6, 1939.

A. STOCKSTROM -r m,

GAS 'RANGE: CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 4, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented June 6', 1939 UNITED STATES GAS RANGE CONSTRUCTION Arthur Stockstrom and Almer H. Brodbeck, St Louis, Mo., assignors to American Stove Company, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of New Jersey Application August 4, 1936, Serial No. 94,256

5 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in gas range constructions, and the invention pertains to certain improvements which will be pointed out hereinafter.

The present improvement pertains particularly to ranges which are constructed with a top or open burner portion and located below this top or open burner portion is an oven and usually a broiler drawer portion.

In the construction of such ranges as have been made for several years these outer parts are rigidly connected with said construction and are formed as a partof the range and without which the range would not be rigid.

The general practice for years has been to enamel the open top burner portion, the sides and the front frame portion, and it is well known to manufacturers that such parts forming part of the rigid construction frequently are chipped war injured in transportation and in other ways when handling the ranges and, in fact, frequently in use need replacing. It is well known that the replacing of any of these rigid portions of the structure is complicated, difficult and expensive.

These facts being known for years to manufacturers of ranges with the above portions forming the rigid structure of the ranges, it has been desirable to so construct a range that the above difliculties and expense would be avoided.

All table top ranges that are known to us have the cooking top or working surface made as a rigid part of the whole structure and also the sides and front frames also made part of the rigid structure and that the rigidity of the whole strucag ture depends upon this open top portion, the sides and the front frame portions.

In order to overcome these difficulties we have finally developed a novel range construction whereby the internal portions of the stove form thesole rigid structure and receive all the strains placed on the range entirely independently of the top portion and also of the sides and the front center of the working portion of the range as indicated in dotted line 3-4 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated by arrows.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the internal rigid construction of the range to which the detachable burner or working top and detachable sides and front frame portions are attached.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view illustrating one end of the range.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the right hand end of Fig. l the detachable enameled side and the heavy insulating slab which is located between the vertical inner rigid wall 33 being shown in detached relation.

Fig. '7 is a detail view in horizontal section illustrating the manner of attaching the outer panels to the stove.

The range illustrated in the drawings and best appearing as an entirety in Fig. 1, consists main- 1y of a central working portion i and two open cooking top portions 2 and 3, which are located at opposite sides of the working portion I. A suitable splasher back 4 is shown and is constructed and attached in a manner presently hereinafter described. The front of the range below the working portion i and the open burner portions 2 and 3 is provided with a narrow horizontal panel 5 which extends entirely across the front of the range. I Suitable valve handles 6 for controlling the fuel supply to the burnersnot shown-are located on this panel.

In the construction shown in Fig. l, the part I is an oven door wherein there is placed a suit ble burnernot shown-the gas to which burne. is controlled by any well known type of thermostatic arrangement 8. Located opposite the oven is a broiler compartment 9 and below this compartment a suitable. drawer I0.

By reference to Fig. 3, it will be seen that the splasher plate or back extends downward below the top of the parts I, 2, and 3 and the same is fastened by bolts Ii or the like to the main back I! of the range.

Describing now the rigid constructional portions of the range and having reference more particularly to Fig. 4 of the drawings, it will be seen that thereis-a bottom 3| rectangular in shape and of a size to form a base and bottom closure for the entire structure. This bottom has downwardly and outwardly bent marginal edges to form a base 32 'andthis member is composed of a materialhaving'suflicient-thickness to give the necessary rigidity to the entire lower portion of the structure and to serve as a base which can be elevated the required distance above the floor by stove .egs of any conventional design. Although it is not shown, it will be understood that this bottom will be provided with ventilating openings for the admission of secondary air to the oven compartments. Describing the lower left hand housing structure C and the right hand housing structure B. it will be seen that a plate 33 constitutes the outer end wall of the housing C and that a plate 39 constitutes the inner end wall of this housing. The inner end wall of the housing B is in the form of a plate 49 which parallels the aforementioned plate 39 but is in spaced relationship therewith to form between the walls a space 4|. The outer end wall of the housing B is in the form of a plate 34. All of the plate walls 33, 34, 39 and 49 are of a material having suflicient thickness or strength to form a structure having adequate rigidity to support the stresses, strains and loads to which they will be subjected.

The wall 33 is provided with marginal inturned flanges 35 and the wall 34 with marginal inturned flanges 36. The inner end walls 39 and 49 are provided at their longitudinal edges with flanges 31.

The aforementioned range back |2 at its vertical edges is provided with inturned flanges 42 and at its upper edgewith a horizontally disposed inturned flange 28.

The vertical flanges at the rear ends of thevertical walls are secured as at, 35' to the rear closure plate l2 of the range while the bottom flanges of the vertical wall plates are suitably secured as appears at 39 to the base or bottom plate 3|.

Describing now the upper chanmber A which comprises the burner chamber beneath the cooking and working top portions of the range and which extends entirely over the lower compartments B and C, it will be seen that this is in the'form of a flat plate having at its side and rear marginal edges an up-turned flange 2| which is secured at a plurality of points |9 to the rear wall II of the range to support the top plate or burner chamber bottom 29 in separated parallel relationship to the tops 24 of the broiling and cooking ovens, as clearly appears in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings. Incidentally the tops 24 of these ovens at their longitudinal edges are provided with downwardly extending flanges which parallel the side walls of the compartments which they cover while at their rear edges they are provided with upwardly turned flanges 26 which are bolted or otherwise suitably secured as at 21 to the main rear wall |2 of the range. These oven top plates 24 at their forward ends are provided with an upwardly extending flange which carries a bracket 23 upon which is supported and secured the front marginal edge of the burner chamber bottom plate 29.

The ends of the burner chamber are closed by I end plates l3 having at their rear vertical edges flanges l4 which are suitably secured to the rear wall l2 of the range. At their top edges these plates are provided with an outturned flange l4 and at their'bottom edges with an inturned flange II which extends beneath the longitudinal edges of the-burner chamber'bottomplate 29 and aids in supporting the same in proper operative and .rigid relationship to the remaining structure of the range. The side marginal edges 2| of the plate 29 are secured to the plates I3 at a plurality of points l9. The front vertical edges of the side plates I! are provided with outwardly turned flanges II which lie in the same vertical plane with and are therefore in alignment with the flanges 35 and 31 at the vertical front edges of the oven compartment walls.

A frame or panel is provided for the front of the range. This range front panel defines the openings into the broiling and cooking ovens as well as the opening for the drawer 9 and also frames the opening at the front end of the burner chamber which is closed by the aforementioned panel 5. This front frame at its upper end has two cross members l6 arranged in separated parallel relationship and which are of a U-shape in cross section, as designated at 22. The lowermost cross member telescopically receives the front ends of the oven tops 24 and the burner bottom plate 29. The upper cross member I6 is for the purpose of adding rigidity to the range and supports the inturned horizontal leg portion of the range front panel 5. This panel 5 may be connected by a screwnot shown-that passes through the leg portion 22, or by fitting snugly between the said leg and the front ends of the top portions I, 2 and 3. The vertical legs of the front plate are designated at l6 and are provided with a Ushaped channelway which telescopically receives the flanged front edges of the oven walls as well as the flanged front edges of the burner chamber side plates l3. As designated at H, 38 and 4| these parts are suitably secured together by bolts or other like means.

By reference to Figure 7 it will be seen that the vertical legs l6 of the front frame in addition to having a U-shaped channelway have at their outer marginal edges 'a bracket-like portion 19 having in spaced relationship throughout its length a plurality of lips or lugs H.

The rigid stove structure thus far described would in itself be quite unsightly and it is for this reason as well as to provide a range having a double wall insulated construction that the outer walls or panels suitably enameled are secured to the inner rigid structure. of attaching these outer walls is quite simple and can be rapidly and cheaply done.

The front of the range it will be understood comprises the enameled front panel 5; the enameled door panels I and 9; and the enameled drawer front or panel l9. These panels taken together with an enameled panel 46 beneath the main oven door 1 completely conceal and beautify the rigid front end structure of the range. Said panel is detachably supported by a screwnot shown-which passes through it into the lower horizontal right hand portion li of the frame l9".

Figures 6 and '7 read in the light of Fig. 4 illustrate the manner of attaching the enameled front panels 5 and 46 and the enameled outer end wall panels 45 to the range. The panels 45 at their rear marginal edges are provided with an inturned flange 5|; provided with bolt openings 52 to receive bolts which in turn pass through the openings 53 in the rear |2 of the range. Suitable insulation 12 is placed between the double walls of the range. The end wall panels 45 have an inturned beveled upper edge 41 and a beveled inturned bottom edge 43. The inturned upper edge portions 41 of these panels overlap the flange 28 at the upper edge of the.

rear plate l2- and the flanges l4 at the upper edges of the side plates l3. The lower inturned edges 49 of the panels rest upon the horizontal flange portions 49 of the flanges 32 at the longitudinal edges of the bottom base plate member 3|. At their forward vertical ends the plates 49 The manner amass? guarded-against injury during transit. Should are substantially U-shaped as indicated at 18, and the leg portions H of these flanges enterthe space between the tongues II and one side wall of the U-shaped frame member Il and are thus secured for quick detachment and'attachment to the range.

It is to be understood that the panels I and 46 at the'front of therange are also constructed for quick and easy attachment to and detachment from therlgid range structure.

A description will now be given of the removable cooking top plates 2 and .3 and the working top I. These members are detachably and loosely supported upon the upper flange 28 of the range back I! and upon the horizontal leg I of the front range panel B at their rear and front edges respectivelyand upon the inturned upper longitudinal edges 41 of the range end walls I. To-guard against longitudinal movement and accidental displacement the members burner chamber or most important of all either or all of them can be removed and a new membersubstituted in the event any of them become injured either from wear or accidental handling. It will of course be understood that .the members I, 2 and 3 have an enameled finish and that oftentimes in shipment or in use the enamel finishing of these members becomes injured or marred to such an extent as to make it desirable that they be replaced.

As ranges have been built heretofore it has been necessary to make the insulation in a series of slabs which have been held in place by liners. In the present improved construction such slabs and liners are not necessary because the insulation can be made of a "continuous piece to fit tightly between adjacent walls. Insulation can be readily applied, if desired, between the bottom fl of the burner chamber and the tops 24 of the oven and broiler compartments. Insulation can also be placed in the space ll between the vertical inner walls of the oven compartments should it be desired. It would also be a simple matter to secure insulation to the under side of the range bottom 3i, should it be desired, and the same could readily be held in po sition by providing a suitable external sheet or panel in spaced relationship to said bottom.

It is to be observed that we have constructed an inner range frame which is rigid entirely independent of the outer range walls as well as independently-of thetops I, 2 and I. It should be readily apparent that a range top made in a plurality .of pieces which are readily and quickly removable comprises a' range having many advantages over those now known and. in use for the reason that these upper parts of a range are the parts which receive the greatest wear and-are not likely to be injured. Attention is further directed to the fact that the outer enameled sides 45, the front panels 5 and 4G and that the enameled doors or closures I, 9 and II in themselves do not form any part of the rigid frame construction and due to the fact that they are quickly detachable they can be shipped separately from the main range frame and thus they however become injured either in transit or in use they can be easily and cheaply replaced, as will be readily apparent.

We claim:

1. An improved range interior frame comprising, a base plate, a back plate extending upwardly from the rear edge of said base plate, a vertically extending plate secured to said base plate at each end thereof and of a height less 1.

than that of the back plate and forming the outer side walls of a pair of lower compartments, a pa r ofvertically extending plates secured to said base plate intermediate its ends and arranged in separated parallel relation and forming the inner side walls of the pair of compartments, a top plate for each lower compartment secured to the upper ends of said side wall plates and to the said back plate, a compartment over- I lying both of said lower compartments, said compartment having a bottom secured at its rear edge to said back plate and supported at its front edge by extensions from the top plates of said lower compartments whereby said bottom is disposed in separated parallel relation to the tops of said lower compartments, side plates extending along the sides of said upper compartment bottom and secured thereto and to the backv plate, a front plate secured to the front faces of the members defining the front ends of the aforesaid compartments, said front plate having openings into all of said compartments and constituting a crossframe securing the front ends of the side walls of the upper compartment together, the parts providing a range inner frame having a rigidity sufficient to withstand the strain of transportation of the completed range.

2. An improved interior rigid frame for a table top type range having cooking top plates, comprising a base plate carrying side walls of a plurality of lower compartments extending upward from said base plate, and a back plate attached to said base plate and .forming the back of said compartments and extending thereabove to form the back wall of a cooking top burner compartment, a top for each of said lower compartments secured to the top ends of said side walls and to said range back, a bottom for said cooking top burner compartment disposed in parallel separated relation to the tops of said lower compartments and supported on said range back and lower compartment tops, side walls and a front frame for said cooking top burner compartment supported on said base thereof, and a front frame embracing the front ends and faces of, the members defining the fronts of said compartments.

3. An improved rigid range interior frame for a table top type range, comprising a base plate, a back plate extending upwardly from the rear edge of said base plate, a vertically extending plate secured to said base plate at each end thereof and of aheight less than that of the back plate and forming the outer end walls of a pair of lower compartments, a pair of vertically extending plates secured to said base plate intermediate its ends and arranged in separated parallel relation and forming the inner end walls of a pair of compartments, a top plate for each lower compartment secured to the upper end of the said side wall plates and to said back plate, a shallow compartment overlying both of said lower compartments and provided with a bottom secured at its rear edge to said back plate and having its front portion supported by extensions from the top plates of said lower comarated parallel relation to the tops of said lower compartment, side plates extending upwardly from the sides of said upper compartment bottom and secured thereto and to said back plate, a front plate secured to the front ends of all of said side plates and provided with a pair of openings giving access to said lower compartments and having an upper end in the form of a rectangular frame providing a framed opening of a size substantially that of the size of the front end of said upper compartment, and the space between the interior walls of. said lower compartments and the space beneath the bot-' tom of the upper compartment beingadapted to receive'heat insulating material.

4. An improved rigid range interior frame for a table top type range, comprising a base plate having its front and end edges bent down,- wardly and outwardly to form a horizontally disposed flange, a back plate extending upwardly from the rear edge of said base plate, a vertically extending plate secured to said base plate at each end thereof and of a height less than that of the back plate and forming the outer end walls of a pair of lower compartments, a .pair of vertically extending plates secured to said base plate intermediate its ends and arranged in separated parallel relation and forming the inner end walls of a pair of compartments, a top'plate for each lower compartment secured to the upper end of said side wall plates and to said back plate, a shallow compartment overlying both of said lower compartments and provided with a bottom secured at its rear edge of said back plate and having its front portion supported by extensions from the top plates of said lower compartment whereby said bottom is disposed in separated parallel relation to the tops of said lower compartment, side plates extending upwardly from the sides of said upper compartment bottom and secured thereto and to said 2,161,587 partment whereby said bottom is disposed in sep-' back plate, a front plate secured to the front ends of all of said side plates and provided with a pair of openings giving access to said lower compartments and having an upper end in the form of a rectangular frame providing a framed opening of a size substantially that of the size of the front end of said upper compartment, the

lower horizontal member 01'. said rectangular frame which forms the upper end of said front frame being of a U-shape in cross section and telescopically receiving the tops of the lower compartments and the bottom of the upper compartment, said front frame having an inturned lower edge-resting on the outturned front edge of said base plate and the space between the interior walls of said lower compartments and the space beneath the bottom of the upper compartment being adapted to receive heat insulating material. 5. An interior range frame, comprising a shallow top frame having a bottom connected therewith and providing the sides of a shallow top compartment, a plurality of under frames constituting the sides and top walls of two deep lower compartments having a combined horizontal dimension substantially equal to the horizontal dimension of. said top compartment, the tops of said lower compartment frames being located in separated parallel relationship to the bottom of said top compartment frames, a base constituting a. bottom for said under frames and said bottom compartments, a plate connected to said base and to the rear ends of all said compartment side frames and constituting a back wall for all of said compartments, a front \frame having openings therein providing access to all of said compartments and provided with a portion interconnecting the front edges of said bottom compartment tops and said top compartment bottom.

ARTHUR STOCKS'I'ROM. ALMER H. BRODBECK. 

